Google driving down fragmentation as 70% of Android users run version 2.x

More than 70 percent of Android users are now running version 2.1 of the mobile operating system or above according to the latest usage statistics released by Google.

Obtained by monitoring access to Android Market within a 14 day period during September, Google's numbers state that Android 2.1 also known as Eclair is the most common version of the OS, with around 42 percent of active devices running this particular flavour.

Updates for all

When combined with the most recent release 2.2 or Froyo accounting for almost 29 percent of devices the number of handsets running versions 2.1 and 2.2 now greatly outnumber those with older versions.

In total, versions 1.5 and 1.6 now account for fewer than 30 percent of users.

Getting a fix on the figures

Back in June, Android 1.5 and 1.6 made up almost half of all devices running the OS, with an apparent reluctance by carriers and OEMs to roll out more recent versions of the platform leaving million of consumers unable to run the latest apps.

Such fragmentation concerns have dogged Android, although it's not clear whether the new found prominence of versions 2.1 and 2.2 is as a result of operators allowing updates, or more likely, the increase in sales of newer handsets, and the replacement of older devices.

Indeed, it's since the last round of stats were released that Android sales have accelerated in the US, where numerous sources now claim the platform is outselling both iPhone and BlackBerry handsets.

[source: Google]